Casseroles

According to recent news reports, the number of people dining out is decreasing and the good news is more families are preparing dinner together at home. One of the most economical and nutritional foods enjoyed by people all over the world is the casserole.

"Casserole: A dish or pot made from a material such as glass, cast iron, aluminum, or earthenware in which food is baked and, often, served. The word, which may also refer to the food itself...is from the French and was first printed in English in 1708....Cooking in such dishes has always been a part of most nation's gastronomy, but the idea of casserole cooking as a one-dish meal became popular in America in the twentieth century, especially in the 1950s when new forms of lightweight metal and glassware appeared on the market. The virtues of easy-to-prepare meals were increasingly promoted in the women's magazines of the era, thereby supposedly freeing the housewife from the lengthy drudgery of the kitchen....By the 1970s casserole cookery took on a less-than sophisticated image..."
The Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink, John F. Mariani [Lebhar-Friedman:New York] 1999 (p.59)

This month, I am featuring a variety of casserole dishes on my recipes site, and for more interesting information on casseroles, visit the food time-line link:
http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq.html